Areimeh Castle

The region had an important strategic role, due to its proximity to the Homs Gap, Mount Lebanon, Syrian Coastal Mountain Range and Beqaa Valley.[1] Hence, a Crusader castle was built there,[2] on Byzantine ruins during the 12th century. It was controlled by Raymond II, Count of Tripoli, then by Bertrand of Toulouse, Alphonse Jourdain's illegitimate son, in 1149, but Raymond recaptured it with the assistance of Muslim ruler, Nur ad-Din Zengi, and Bertrand was imprisoned for twelve years.[3] Later on, Raymond ceded the castle to the Knights Templar in the early 1150s.[4] It was taken temporarily by Nur ad-Din Zengi by 1167,[5] damaged in the 1170 earthquake, sacked again by Nur ad-Din in 1171, then recaptured by the Knights Templar in 1177,[6] it was temporarily taken by Saladin in 1187, and finally lost to Muslims in 1291.[7]

Aerial view of the Areimeh Castle (1929).

The castle was about 300 metres (980 ft) long and consisted of two courtyards surrounded by a redoubt. The patios and the redoubt were separated by two ditches. The entrance was on the west side and was dominated by a large tower, from which the redoubt commenced. This was made up of several square towers throughout its length. Two phases of construction were recognized: The first was made of basalt stone, at the beginning of the 12th century, while the second was made of limestone, which was built in the end of the 12th century or the beginning of the 13th century. These last modifications could correspond to those carried out by the Templars after their capture of the castle.[7]

• Boas, Adrian (2006), Archaeology of the Military Orders: A Survey of the Urban Centres, Rural Settlements and Castles of the Military Orders in the Latin East (c.1120-1291), Routledge, ISBN 9781134422845.
• Kennedy, Hugh (1994), Crusader castles, Cambridge University Press.
• Murray, Alan V. (2015), The Crusades to the Holy Land: The Essential Reference Guide, ABC-CLIO, ISBN 9781610697804.